Alterations of mast cells and TGF-β1 on the silymarin treatment for CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis

Figure 3 Hepatic fibrosis and accumulation of collagen in only CCl₄- or CCl₄ with silymarin-treated groups. In only CCl₄-treated group - A and G: At 4 wk, collagen (arrowhead) accumulation around the blood vessels; B and H: At 8 wk, collagen fiber (arrowhead) was more abundant in the centrilobular area and neighboring central veins were bridged by fibrous septa; C and I: At 12 wk, pseudolobuli were formed actively and macrovesicular lipid droplets were detected. The collagenous septa (arrowhead) were much thicker, and pseudolobuli were subdivided into smaller lobuli. In CCl₄ with silymarin-treated groups - D and J: At 4 wk, connective tissue was almost normal around the areas of central veins; E and K: At 8 wk, the slight accumulation and spread of collagen fibers around central veins was observed; F and L: At 12 wk, large lipid accumulation was detected more than that of CCl₄-treated group and pseudolobuli were formed by thin collagenous septa. HE stain, A-F; Azan stain, G-L. Original magnification: ×33, A-L.